Following their 2-1 series loss against West Indies, the English cricket team had to suffer the added ignominy of falling behind arch rivals Australia in the official ICC Test rankings, with Joe Root's side slipping two places to fifth. Australia ended their home summer on a high with a Test series win against Sri Lanka, and therefore find themselves in 4th position, behind India, South Africa and New Zealand respectively.
England's rank below Australia is likely the remain a status quo ahead of the Ashes with the former slated to play only one four-day-fixture against Ireland in the form of red ball cricket. Australia, on the other hand, has no more Test matches until August when they lock horns with familiar foes once again for the Ashes Urn.
Despite the team's slump in form in the Test rankings, individual players benefitted from this Caribbean sojourn; as Joe Root climbed up three places to once again reclaim his position in the top five for the batsman. Jos Butler too climbed eight places, from 34th to 26th In the ICC rankings.
